Moldova's progress made, next steps in implementation of EU's acquis on energy, climate discussed in Vienna

Chisinau, 13 December /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova’s progress, as well as the next steps in the implementation of the EU acquis on energy and climate were discussed at the 22nd meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community Treaty, held in Austria, Vienna, on 12 December. Attending the high-level meeting was the state secretary of the Energy Ministry, Cristina Pereteatcu.    

„The first position in the ranking of the Energy Community for 2024 shows the efforts made in the promotion of renewable energy sources, in the regional integration and in the development of a more efficient and more sustainable energy system. This achievement is a proof of our firm commitment for the transformation of Moldova’s energy sector. This progress brings us closer to the full integration into the European energy market and to the achievement of the global energy and climate objects,’’ Cristina Pereteatcu said.    

At the same time, the Ministerial Council took note of the factors which had contributed to the big differences of price between markets, including in the process of implementation of the Electricity Integration Package in the Energy Community. In the context, the Ministerial Council urged the Contracting Parties to urgently finish the transposing of the package and speed up the activities of implementation of the markets’ integration, in order to maximize the use of the capacities of transport of electric energy. The Ministerial Council recognized that the transposition of the Electricity Integration Package was a preliminary condition for the full and mutual integration of the electricity systems and markets of the Contracting Parties with the European Union’s ones.        

The Electricity Integration Package represents a set of measures and regulations adopted at the level of the European Union and Energy Community, which regard the creation of an integrated space for the commerce and distribution of electric energy between the EU member states and those from the business of the Energy Community, including Moldova and other countries of the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.    

At the same time, the participants in the Vienna meeting tackled also key subjects, such as the acceleration of the implementation of renewable energy projects and the need to speed up the measures of preparation for winter, especially in the context of the energy crisis in Ukraine and its impact on the region.  

According to the implementation report by the Secretariat of the Energy Community, Moldova has made significant progress in essential sectors, such as the security of deliveries, markets’ liberalization, access to networks, energy efficiency and promotion of the renewable energy sources. Among the outstanding achievements, there is the working out of the National Plan on Energy and Climate and the implementation of a national system of reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.    

On visit to Vienna, Cristina Pereteatcu had a meeting with European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen. The discussions were focused on more important subjects, including the energy crisis, Moldova’s energy infrastructure and measures for ensuring a safe supply with energy. The sides also discussed opportunities of investments in the renewable energy sector and implementation of the Energy Efficiency First principle in the national legislation.   

„The energy crisis in the region represents a challenge, as well as opportunity to speed up the transition to renewable energy sources. In the context, it is essential that we continue to closely cooperate with the European Union, in order to implement efficient measures, including through the organization of tenders for big capacities of renewable energy,’’ Cristina Pereteatcu stressed at the meeting.    

Among other subjects approached, there was the implementation of the ECO Voucher Programme for backing the vulnerable families, which allows them replacing old household appliances with more energy efficient equipment, and the supporting of innovations in the energy sector through the creation of the legal framework and implementation of spaces of innovative testing in the energy field in Moldova, known as ‘’sandbox’’ – mechanism elaborated with the support of the United States Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova and the Danish government.    

At the same time, European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen accepted the invitation to participate in the High Level Energy Dialogue (HLED), which will take place in Moldova in the beginning of the next year.